The Challenge
J.M. Brennan, Inc., a family-owned mechanical contracting company founded in 1932, had built a stellar reputation serving Milwaukee’s hospitals, universities, and manufacturing facilities for over 90 years. However, their manual processes were holding them back.
“A lot of our process was manual,” explains Dan Wittig, Sheet Metal Manager at J.M. Brennan. “We relied heavily on data entry, which opened the door for mistakes, forgotten materials, and inconsistencies. Our field crews had to juggle multiple accounts and email chains just to place orders.”
The company’s design, fabrication, and field teams operated in silos, with orders typed up and sent manually through service vendors. Dimension errors and mistakes weren’t caught until late in the process, causing costly delays and putting unnecessary pressure on already busy crews.
The Solution
When J.M. Brennan discovered BuildCentrix, the platform’s ability to eliminate manual data entry and catch dimension errors in real-time immediately caught their attention. The centralized system promised to allow field crews to order directly from vendors without managing multiple accounts.
“The onboarding was smooth and surprisingly well received,” Wittig notes. “Our crews aren’t always excited about new tech, but it clicked once they saw how much time it saved them. Even the guys who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy were excited to use it.”
The Results
BuildCentrix transformed J.M. Brennan’s workflows by replacing manual steps with smart entry systems that catch mistakes before they happen, automatic billing that ensures nothing gets missed, and a production calendar that keeps all teams aligned.
“We’ve cut down on mistakes and forgotten items because of automatic billing and error-checking,” Wittig explains. “What used to take multiple emails and manual entries can now be done directly from the field in one spot.”
The financial impact has been significant, with eliminated forgotten materials, streamlined billing, and time savings across teams translating directly into cost reductions, and all without adding headcount.
Looking Forward
The digital platform positions J.M. Brennan for future growth and scalability. “We’re already looking at expanding into logistics and material recording, and having everything in one system sets us up for scalability,” says Wittig.
For mechanical contractors considering similar investments, Wittig’s advice is clear: “The biggest advantage is accuracy and time savings. For a large company with a lot of service work like ours, the ability to keep field teams, design, and vendors aligned in one place makes a huge difference. It’s simple, effective, and it just works.”